Madam Tang sneered, "Who else could it be but the Empress Dowager."
She paused here, her expression gradually becoming solemn, "No, it won’t be the Empress Dowager, she has no reason to do so, then it must be..."
Lord Tang said with a deep gaze, "Inside that palace wall, there is actually another force that can rival His Majesty and Her Majesty."
Madam Tang was startled for a mont, then slapped him on the chest angrily, "Oh, Tang Zhihe, you’re testing !"
Lord Tang, pained by the slap on his chest, curled up and hurriedly cried out his grievance, "Madam, you’ve got wrong, how is this testing? I’m clearly reminding you at great risk."
"Pah, do you take for a fool? Let tell you, our Wang Family is not involved in this matter, we have no one in the palace, not even a prince, so why would our family involve itself in this affair?"
Madam Tang paused here, then suddenly thought of sothing, and quickly whispered in his ear, "The Yang Family..."
Lord Tang sighed, "Zhangbo is avoiding suspicion now, otherwise, I wouldn’t be busy alone for half the night."
Madam Tang remained silent for a long ti, leaning back on the pillow, "So even Zhangbo suspects his own family..."
"No, there is still a difference between this house of uncles and his own family."
"What difference? He’s the legitimate line of the main branch, and most of the people in the palace are under Marquis Yang’s control. Even if it was done by them, I don’t believe Marquis Yang is unaware of it by now."
Lord Tang didn’t say anything further, though his heart was indeed more troubled.
Madam Tang sighed, "I don’t know what Marquis Yang is thinking. Zhangbo is so smart and capable, what’s so good about becoming an imperial relative? If the Yang Family really becos an imperial relative, with so many capable officials in the court, how many opportunities does he have? Without that layer of identity, it’s only a matter of ti before he becos a marquis and pri minister."
The current emperor is considered wise and strong, but even State Duke Zhao has to avoid suspicion all the ti, and gave up military command early. In terms of seniority and ability, he is no less than Wei Zhi.
But Wei Zhi has already taken over Ji Xiang’s work, just short of a formal title, while State Duke Zhao is still only a State Duke, holding a position in the Ministry of War under Minister Li.
Lord Tang sighed, "I’m afraid this is not just the will of the Yang Family alone."
Madam Tang glanced at him, "What do you an by this, do you still suspect my Wang Family?"
Lord Tang slightly shook his head, "Your Wang Family in Taiyuan may have tens of thousands of people, even if your father-in-law is more capable, can he control everyone? Not to ntion there’s also the Wang Family in Langya, the Wang Family in Beihai, and besides the Wang Family, there are large families like the Cui Family and the Lu Family."
Madam Tang: "Have they nothing better to do than harm the imperial grandchild?"
"In August, the Ministry of Justice and Punishnts reported a case, saying that the official land in the Qinghe area was almost completely encroached upon. The incumbent officials, let alone the county magistrate, even the governor couldn’t get their allotted official land," Lord Tang lowered his voice, "So county magistrates could only grit their teeth and endure hardships, surviving on ager salaries and grain stipends, while others seized civilian land, converting fertile fields into official land, ultimately causing incidents that led to the deaths of two families. Because an official was involved in the cri, the case was submitted to the Ministry of Justice and Punishnts."
"Originally, the case was quietly judged, but in August, the family of that county official ca to the capital to expose the matter, counter-accusing the commoners of encroaching on official land, saying the county official was using fertile land as official land, and the Ministry of Justice and Punishnts showed favoritism, so the county official was severely sentenced." Lord Tang said, "At that ti, the palace was preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there were many foreign envoys visiting, so as not to lose face, the matter was temporarily suppressed, but the case was transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Censorate for my father to investigate."
"Last month, most of the case was already investigated, that county official was indeed guilty and sentenced to heavy punishnt, exiled to Qiongzhou." Lord Tang said, "However, what the official’s family said was also true, in the Qinghe area, involving six counties, the official land was basically missing."
Madam Tang was astonished and opened her mouth wide.
"When the case reached the Ministry of Justice, and that official began to speak the truth, the Ministry of Justice made a swift judgnt."
Madam Tang anxiously asked, "Is His Majesty going to investigate the encroachnt of official land?"
"Not just the encroachnt of official land, but also the encroachnt of civilian land and land seizures, father said, His Majesty wants to polish the Crown Prince, this matter is likely to fall on the Crown Prince." Lord Tang said with a deep gaze, "Don’t look at His Majesty always scolding the Crown Prince, dissatisfied with this, dissatisfied with that, but they, father and son, are most alike, not only in temperant and character, but also in political views, they rarely have disagreents in this aspect, so if the Crown Prince is willing to heed instruction, he is very likely the next emperor."
Lord Tang didn’t know what those officials thought, but he himself actually agreed with this heir apparent.
This Crown Prince’s temperant would certainly make it hard for them as ministers if he beca the emperor; he might be as willful as the emperor in his youth, wanting to play, wanting to personally go on expeditions, leaning more towards martial governance than civil governance.
But just looking at the past six months and well before, one would know, although he loves fun, he is also diligent in administration; although his temper is great, most tis he can take advice.
The main thing is, amidst so many strong officials in the court, he can keep them in check.
Honestly, Tang He privately discussed with Yang Heshu about all the emperor’s sons, counting this and that, still found the Crown Prince most suitable.
The Second Prince is unambitious, only concerned with eating, drinking, and playing; Prince Guangping is deep-minded but short-sighted; Prince Gong is narrow-minded, outwardly kind, too hypocritical; further down, the Fifth Prince has a gentle personality, only speaks of loyalty in conduct, sotis even more willful than the Crown Prince, and easily swayed by others.
Heard that he originally wanted to eat an unleavened bread in the morning, but after a few words from those around him, he imdiately changed to eating noodles.
The Sixth Prince is not only young but also born of a princess from the previous dynasty, making him certainly unsuitable.
But what they consider suitable, those officials may not think so.
Lord Tang said, "It’s unclear what the investigation will uncover, but I already feel that if it reveals sothing, I might lose my life; if it doesn’t reveal anything, I might lose my position."
Madam Tang asked him, "What do you intend to do then?"
Lord Tang said, "I want to investigate thoroughly, as long as there are clues, I will follow them."
Lord Tang reached out and held her hand, with tears in his eyes, "Madam, if I really leave you, you should leave the children with my father and remarry."
Madam Tang, infuriated, slapped him on the face, angrily saying, "What nonsense! You investigate, I want to see which bastard dares to take your life."
She said angrily, "Our Wang Family is not to be trifled with either!"
Lord Tang held her hand in silence, only falling asleep for a little while near daybreak with his eyes closed.
Lord Tang splashed cold water on his face and was stubbornly made to apply so whitening cream on his face by Madam Tang before he broke free and went to work.
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